From: Carl Weese (cweese@earthlink.net)
Date: 11/27/01-09:39:50 AM Z
Don,
Last question first, the negs I'm doing in PMK print fine in both Pt/Pd and
variable contrast silver. Most would probably print on a grade 1
non-variable silver paper as well. I almost never use any contrasting agent
with develop-out Pt/Pd--I haven't been doing much POP recently but would
likely need just a touch of dichromate to bring contrast up to the level of
develop-out palladium.
The variable results are strange, and I think water has a lot to do with all
this. I'm also beginning to think that not all distilled water is created
equal. Also, for my large negatives and propensity to shoot a lot of film,
my need for distilled water would be prodigious if I couldn't use what comes
out of my well. Like ten gallons a day when processing six "runs" of film
after an expedition!
I don't get streaks from ribbed trays (Patterson) with Tri-X, but find
smooth trays essential with Ilford films. FP4 is even more sensitive to this
than HP5. BPF200 also does fine in ribbed trays for me. Processing the film
face up results in ruined negatives with flat centers and overdeveloped
edges.
Print times also need to be considered in terms of overall workflow. A
twenty minute exposure can be ideal. It gives plenty of time to prepare,
coat, and dry/humidify the next sheet of paper, all while moving the
previous print through the clearing baths. When the current exposure is done
you can start the next one, then begin wet steps. At any given moment you
are clearing several prints, exposing another, and coating/drying still
another. This can wind up with more production over a several hour work
session than you get with 5-10 minute exposures.
---Carl
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